Why Nato will say no to an independent Scotland

IT will be “almost impossible” for an independent Scotland to join Nato because some member states fear it could encourage separatists within their own borders, senior alliance sources revealed yesterday.

Alex Salmond faces another blow as Nato say independent Scotland would have to reapply[PA]

The declaration comes a day after Scottish First Minster Alex Salmond argued that the benefits of using a missile-testing range in the Hebrides would “far outweigh” concerns over pledges to give up its nuclear weapons.

The nationalists have maintained Scotland would remain part of a wider “defence union” as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

However the focus on pledges to get rid of Trident missiles, “misses the point”, according to the source at Nato.

Abandoning a nuclear deterrent would not endear an independent Scotland to the alliance, said the source, and, as a new state, Scotland would have to reapply.

There are member states who would fear the consequences that ­welcoming Scotland would have on their own nationalist movements

A senior source

The source went on: “There is another issue that nationalists seem not to have ­considered. To become a member an independent Scotland would have to have the unanimous support of all 28 nations.

“There are member states who would fear the consequences that ­welcoming Scotland would have on their own nationalist movements.”

Of all Nato member states, 17 have separatist movements.

It would not be the first time a nation had been denied membership. In 2008 Greece blocked Macedonia because of anger that it had adopted the name of ­Alexander the Great’s birthplace.

The Washington DC-based Atlantic Council think tank, airing doubts about Spain’s support, said polls show more Scots support Nato membership than independence, adding: “If it left the UK, it would also be leaving Nato.”